Working in Germany Living and working in Germany

Science has always had a high priority in Germany. How did the scientific system in Germany develop from its beginnings in the 14th century until today and what are the most important fields of research?

2019 marks the fourth round of the German Excellence Initiative (now the Excellence Strategy), a programme that aims to promote and support cutting-edge scientific research. But what exactly does the initiative fund, how does it work and why is it important for international scientists?

Research is gaining more and more importance for Germany as an industrial location. Where does research take place, what are the most important research fields, and what opportunities does Germany offer international researchers?

In Germany, access to higher education is regarded as an basic right to education. How is higher education organised, what requirements have to be fulfilled in order to study, and what must foreign students and researchers watch out for?

In Germany, every citizen’s earnings are subject to a basic tax allowance, including researchers and scientists coming from abroad. To give you an insight before you arrive, here’s how German income tax works and how to pay it.

Will I need a visa to be allowed into Germany? And what will I need to consider when it comes to work and residence permits, if I want to work in Germany?

Husbands or wives of research fellows are allowed to work when the research fellow is entitled to take up gainful employment or when they have been living together as a married couple in Germany for at least two years.

Health insurance in Germany is obligatory for all residents, including researchers and scientists coming from abroad. To help you before you arrive, here’s how the German health insurance system works and how to get insured.

How do people greet one another in Germany? How do work colleagues interact? Anyone arriving in a foreign country for the first time is often unsure of how they should behave.

Berlin is both the capital and the seat of government. It offers a vibrant blend of past and present and is experiencing business and academic growth.

Bonn has become the German capital for development cooperation. Business, academic and cultural organisations work together closely in the United Nations city of Bonn.

Dresden is home to traditional economic sectors, new growth industries and a diverse range of higher education and research institutions.

Frankfurt am Main has a centuries-old tradition as a location for academia and research. In addition to Europe´s second largest airport, it has the highest concentration of banks.

Freiburg is an important centre for academia and has a number of top notch research institutes to its name, as well as an ancient and internationally respected university which excels both in the sciences and humanities.

Hamburg has a reputation for being one of Germany´s most attractive cities. Business and academia flourish here in the North of Germany.

Kiel is, next to Hamburg, the most famous port town. It is a vibrant, wealthy city with plenty of opportunities in academia and industry alike.

Konstanz is home to one of the most prestigious universities in Germany, making it an obvious destination for many academics.

Leipzig has been a respected centre of learning throughout Europe. Various research institutions and Germany´s second oldest university are based here.

Munich combines top-level research at universities and research institutions with a high quality of life and close proximity to other parts of Europe.

Rostock is one of the success stories from the former East Germany and has managed to attract industry and manufacturing back to the town.

Stuttgart is not just home to the automotive sector and winegrowing. No other region invests more in research and development on a daily basis.

Tübingen isn´t just a pretty face as it boasts one of the top universities in the country and a number of respected research institutes.

Hamburg has a reputation for being one of Germany´s most attractive cities. Business and academia flourish here in the North of Germany.

The #ResearchersAtRisk campaign addresses scientists and researchers in exile who are considered "at risk" due to their precarious living and working situation in their country of origin.

Yes, English is by all means the language of science. Less than one per cent of all scientific publications worldwide are today written in German. Despite this, there are still many good reasons to learn German.

Postdocs should bear one thing in mind above all else: a strategy to withdraw from academia is highly advisable, for secure positions are rare.